The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-12-03
KATHLEEN.
BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

A gay fragment of song, lightly trilled,
comes floating in through the library win
dow, and the next instant a 1.-THE, graceful,
girlish form fits in through the open case
ment with Unpleasant rustlng of skirts,
like the flutter of birds swift wings.
Mark Greyson lifts his bowed head from
his folded arms, and smile lights up his
pale face at sight of her-she always brings
breath of the roses and llacs, the charm
of outdoor fragrance and sunshine, where
yer she moves, he thinks-but the smile
fades quickly, and the troubled shadow
deepens in his handsome, proud blue eyes.
'Why so sad, my lord2' exclaims the
girl, in tones of merry raillery, as she stops
| short before him. Upon my word Marsh
your face looks stern and sorrowful enough
to suggest the hero of tragedy. Has any
| calamity occurred?''
Nothing, Miss Kathleen"
"Miss Kathleenr' she echoes, wonder
| inglY drawing back little, with surprise
and faint shadow OF wourded pride or
feeling in the beautiful, flowel-like face.
81 came in here to write letter." he
goes on, smiling slightly, as if not noticing
the interruption, "and fell to dreaming,
instead. That's all
Pleasant dreams, should say" she re-
tors, breaking in o one of her light, merry
laughs, which, musical as it is. sounds harsh
and mocking to him at this moment.
"Perhaps' wicked flash of her
lovely dark eyes-'you wele dreaming OF
your future 'destiny'-some cottage, and
the tradtionalmother-in law in the distance
Now that might explain the deep-dyed trag-
edy written on your brow" she adds, draw
ing down the corners of her laughing mouth
demurely.
"Perhaps it does, Miss Kathleen" he re-
torts, rising 10 his feet impatiently, but
meeting her teasing glance with grim hall
smile hoYering about his stern, compressed
lips. ut is the fate of every man TO mar
ry sooner or later, believe, and-I leaY,
for Chicago tomorrow to enter upon my
career" he ends, with an abrupt change o.
subject, and passes from the room befor,
Ke'hleen recovers from the start his words
have given her.
Her white, fower-ike face has suddenly
turned to an ashy pallor, and the large
dark eyes have a panied and frightened
look in their starry depths.
"Haye l guessed the truth?' she ask
herself, sort of terror stealing through
every nerve, and blanching the red lip
strangely. "Did my foolish, thoughtles
words, that meant nothing at all, startl
him into betraying something neye
dreamed of? 1t must be so,'' she adds
after moments thought "While hay
y been
A little. choking half-sob seems 10 catcl
her breath all at once, and she buriss he
white, shamed face in her trembling hands
For some minutes she stands there
speechless and stunned by this truth whicl
has so suddenly burst upon her.
She recalls everything-the grave, darl
seriousness, so unwonted, upon his coun
tenance, when she surprised him at hi
''dreaming;" then his formal "Aliss Katt
leen" in addressing her, just as If they ha
not been to each other like brother and sis
ter for five long years; then his distant, hal
scornful air, and his almost open acknowl
edgment that he had indeed been thinkin
of bride.
: At last she lifts her dark head with
sudden naughty gesture.
I "Ah, wellr' she says, with touch {
fine self-scorn and hauteur indescriblt
Judge Buel's daughter must not quit
forget her pride. have deceived mysel
I indeed, but there is yet time 10 redeem u
/. error. | can prove to him, even before i
o goes, thank heaven! that my heart was nj
entirely at his mercy. 1t is horrible, but
l will-do itr'
And an irrepresslble shudder shakes HI
1.-THE figure from head to foot as she hurri'
from the room-nol out into the howe
, scented sunlit grounds from which she ha
so lately entered it with song upon h
lips, but silently, swiftly, with shans-Aus
ed eheekt, To her own chamber, whore |